Fountain Pen 101

Fountain Pens are a Unique Writing Experience

Accordingly, They Require a Unique Set of Knowledge to Use Properly

Anatomy

How a fountain pen works

Ink is held in the converter. The feed uses passive capillary action to draw ink from the converter to the nib. The nib also uses capillary action to draw ink from the breather hole, between the tines, and to the tip. When the tip contacts paper, ink flows and the pen writes.

Filling Your Pen

Ink is a personal preference. Different inks will flow different, dry different, and feel different as well. This is not to even mention the range of colors. Unfortunately, we cannot test all inks for compatibility nor recommend ink. We advise choosing an ink based on others reviews and/or past personal experience. If we find inks that don't work well we will post them below.

Non-Optimal Ink

Noodler's Bulletproof Black Ink

Option 1: Cartridges

To use a cartridge with your pen, first unscrew the grip from the body. Remove converter by pulling out. Then insert cartridge into the grip/feed assembly in place of the converter. The feed will puncture the cartridge once properly seated allowing ink to flow. This is a simple and convenient method, but is more expensive and offers less ink options than bottles.

Option 2: Bottle (Recommended)

To use bottled ink, utilize the included converter. We recommend using bottles because it gives you a wider variety of ink choices and is also more cost effiecient. First, unscrew the grip from the body. Ensure the converter is pressed all the way into the feed by applying force to the converter towards the feed. Next, submerge the whole nib and any exposed feed into the ink. It is OK if ink gets on the grip; it will wipe away with water. Screw the end of the converter until the plunger of the converter all the way down (towards the nib). Then, spin the converter the opposite way to move the plunger all the way up and draw ink into the converter. If the ink does not follow, then the converter is not properly seated or your nib is not entirely submerged so you are drawing in air. After removing the nib from the bottle, screw the plunger down enough for two-three drops of ink to escape. Then bring the plunger back all the way up. This process relieves some pressure and prevents leaks. Wipe off excess ink with disposable towel. Gently screw grip back onto body being careful not to spin it too fast and have ink fly everywhere.

FAQ

We try our best to address all possible issues. We are constantly updating this section. However, if you cannot find a solution, there are a plethora of great online resources you can also search. If you still cannot solve your problem, please feel free to contact us directly.

Why wont my pen write?

There could be numerous causes of this issue.

1) Ensure there is indeed ink in the pen. If you are using cartridges, ensure it has been punctured fully.

2) Sometimes, especially when using cartridges, it may take time for ink to flow from the reservoir through the feed and to the nib. This time can be sped up with gravity by placing the cap on the pen and flicking it down. Be careful when doing this as excess ink may come out of the feed and be in your cap. Other methods can be found online.

3) Ensure the feed is aligned rotationally with the nib

Why does my pen feel scratchy?

We have discovered Black Lacquer Nibs will initially be scratchy. This is caused by the black lacquer covering the Iridium writing tip. Over time, the coating will wear off and the nib will become smooth.

Scratchiness (also known as feedback) is caused when a nib is not properly tuned. This could mean the tines are out of alignment, or a number of other issues. We recommend you Google your specific issue and see if any suggested solutions solve it. If not, contact us.

Why is my pen skipping as I write?

Make sure your feed is properly aligned with the nib. The breather hole may not be getting the air it needs causing a pressure difference that resists the flow of ink. A quick fix for this problem is to slightly adjust the plunger to push ink out just enough so that the pen begins to write; if you see ink sitting in between the slits of the feed you have pushed too much ink out.